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Remains of 2 people found at S. Calif. fire scene

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Human remains have been found in the burned-out rubble of a Southern California commercial and residential building where two people have been missing.

Los Angeles sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said the remains of two people were found Monday, and homicide and arson officials were investigating. There was no further information about the remains.

A family of six lived in a converted loft on the second floor of the Compton property, above an auto mechanic shop that the father ran. The father and three children escaped the fire without injuries. But the mother and a daughter have been missing since the blaze, which started just before 2 a.m.

The family members were the only people living in the building.

The fire on East Compton Boulevard burned for nearly an hour and a half, with flames shooting through the roof and sending up huge plumes of smoke.

Dogs from the coroner's office were used to search the 5,000-square-foot building, said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Scott Miller.

"Packrat conditions" inside made it difficult for crews to get a handle on the blaze, Miller said.

"The contents of this building made this fire very hot," he said.

A firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Miller said.